Lowell State Recreation Site
Very helpful map
We had lots of fun trying out different sites using this helpful guide and maps.
206 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping options near Walterville, Oregon range from established campgrounds to recreational areas with varying levels of amenities. The region includes developed options like Cascara Campground at Fall Creek State Recreation Area, which provides tent and RV camping with access to water recreation. Several RV parks exist within a 30-minute drive, including Deerwood RV Park and Dexter Shores RV Park, which also offers cabin accommodations. Fall Creek Reservoir provides multiple camping areas with both group and individual sites, serving as a popular destination for water-based activities.
Road conditions and campground availability vary seasonally throughout the Walterville area, with most campgrounds fully operational between May and September. Fall Creek State Recreation Area's Cascara Campground operates from May 1 to September 30, when weather conditions are most favorable. Many campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly at Forest Service sites, while RV parks typically require reservations. Vault toilets are common at primitive sites, with full hookups available at developed RV parks. One visitor noted, "This used to be one of my favorite spots, and it's still a great little campground, but you used to be able to jump off the dock right into the reservoir, and now the level is kept so low that much of the recreation is no longer accessible."
Campers report high satisfaction with water access at Fall Creek, with swimming areas and docks available at several campgrounds. The Fisherman's Point Group Campground provides spacious sites for larger gatherings, while Cascara Campground offers individual camping areas with fire rings and picnic tables. Water levels can affect recreation quality, particularly during dry seasons. Sites typically include basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, with more developed locations offering electric hookups, showers, and other conveniences. According to one reviewer, "Nice campground and great swimming, but there is no drinking water and very little parking. If you have more than 2 vehicles you have to park outside the camp ground and walk back in." Cell service is generally available in most areas, particularly at developed campgrounds, though coverage may be limited in more remote locations.
"Easy to find from I-5 and very close to Costco. Quiet location away from the road noise and has nice walking path along the McKenzie River."
"Tent sites shady and away from RV sites, with access to a path to walk down to (fast flowing) river (far enough walk not to be too concerning for children if they don’t stray out of sight)."
from $20 - $39 / night
Check Availability"We were lucky enough to rent a space at Deerwood for two months while we escaped the heat of Arizona and visiting our kids in Oregon."
"One star off for highway noise. Looks like many longer term campers here - flower pots, table cloths, decorations, mostly 5th wheelers."
"Nice that Cascara is close to so much to explore. Found a place to dip into the water, to shoot, and exploring the forest roads was a fun afternoon in general."
"About 30 min away from groceries and stores. Came in late to this campround. No reservation needed. Lucky they had a couple of tent sites open. We ended up staying an extra day."
"I had an easy stopover here on the way to Eastern Oregon. I didn’t want to use my tanks, so I used their restrooms. They were warm, clean, and well-lit."
"I personally stay in all sorts of locations, but usually stop here for a couple of nights to take advantage of the great stores in Eugene to stock up before heading off for more primitive camping."
"The road noise varies a lot though so ask for a site close to the office or in the older section. The new sites farther back are closer to the interstate."
"One of the many lakes along the cascade scenic why. Can be a lot of parties during summer. Otherwise gets warm outside. Lots of trails."
"Some great trails accessible for hiking. Although, the trails are not marked that well. Still beautiful and the lakes and nearby reservoir are great. Campsites are big and are drive up"
from $29 - $64 / night
Check Availability"The site we’ve always stayed at is huge, way far from any other sites, and has a neat little trail between the parking spot and camping spot."
"Avoid the spots right near the entrance as the highway sound is pretty loud. Spots 20-40 are near the river and you can either see/hear at most spots."
from $26 - $115 / night
Check Availability"It's near the road and near a TA truck stop, so there's noise from that, but it wasn't obnoxious. Lots of long termers here, some of them look really settled in. "
from $25 - $50 / night
Check Availability"They have one of the cleanest swimming areas around! While there are trails in the resort, the really good longer ones are on forest service land."
from $17 - $65 / night
Check Availability"The proximity to the river can't be beat! However, it can be a bit crowded in the summer, and there is not a lot of privacy between sites."
"Some sites had access to the river but its a bit of a drop (7-30ft)."
from $40 / night
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We had lots of fun trying out different sites using this helpful guide and maps.
I’d rate this campground about 4½ stars. I’ve stayed at better campgrounds, but overall this is a solid place to camp. It’s well maintained for the most part. The bathrooms are a bit hit or miss—some were out of order, and the ones that were open could have been cleaner. I’ve definitely seen both better and worse.
Where this campground really stands out is its location. It’s basically right next to the lake, making water access incredibly convenient. One thing I appreciated is that after checking out of our campsite, we were still able to park at the nearby boat launch and spend the day picnicking and enjoying the lake without having to leave the area.
Paddleboarding here was excellent, and the easy lake access made it even better.
I didn’t notice any pull-through sites; they all appeared to be back-in sites. There were a variety of campsite options, from sites with more amenities to more basic ones, depending on what you’re looking for.
The campground loop is easy to navigate and great for kids riding bikes. The tradeoff is that it’s a lively family campground, so if you’re looking for complete peace and quiet, this probably isn’t the place. You’ll hear kids playing, people talking, and the general sounds of a busy campground throughout the day.
Overall, it’s a well-rounded campground with great lake access and amenities, making it a place I’d happily stay at again.
Definitely worth checking out. As far as I can tell there’s no dispersed camping close to the lake, but there’s plenty once you drive past. I managed to find one that had an opening in the trees so I could use starlink. Only a couple vehicles drove past me over the 3 days I stayed there. There is a lot of burn area, but I definitely suggest taking a drive when you first turn onto the road, hand a left and wind your way up the mountain for stunning views of the area and even the Sisters in the distance. FYI, that drive probably isn’t good for trailers or big rigs since it’s narrow with a steep drop and i have no idea where you’d turn around.
Tent sites shady and away from RV sites, with access to a path to walk down to (fast flowing) river (far enough walk not to be too concerning for children if they don’t stray out of sight). Shower facilities brand new and lovely.
We had a wonderful time paddle boarding at clear water! We went to clear water cove campground to park and unload and met the best camp host! She even let us use her cigarette lighter to air up our boards since our vehicle's cigarette lighter wasn't working! Her name was Caroline, she was wonderful! She also had two dogs, peanut and Wednesday. I will for sure come back!
Lake and view were spectacular. The lake was clear and great for paddle boarding. There were a few other campers, but the location was quiet and idyllic. We arrived after 6pm and were able to easily get a first-come, first-served site. There were lots of sites available after July 4th weekend. Mosquitos were a bit intense. We got hail when we arrived, but it blew over afterwards. Potable water wasn’t available.
Nice campground, pretty clean. Would stay there again
I really liked this campground, but it might not be for everyone so a few heads-up.
This is a small, quiet space. I think 12 spots (some are doubles). As of 7/26 the host is at a different site (French Pete) which is not super close (you are probably not going to walk there to get firewood, but maybe you are, I don't know), 15-20 min drive. Don't rely on needing to make store runs. About 1 hour away, maybe.. and BYO, they do not come every day. Regardless, vault toilets were surprisingly clean on a packed holiday weekend. There is a water pump, it looked clear, I didn't drink from it tho.
Everyone I met was kind, quiet, and respectful; some folks been coming here for so long they might as well be hosts, very knowledge! Too bad it isn't better preserved in terms of local trails. There were dogs at every site (which was fine with me...)
It was confusing, because the river side sites appeared first come first serve online, but all had advance reservation signs on them. These are easily the biggest and most accessible sites. There are some great tent sites not right on the river though. You'll need to do extra exploring to find your way to the water. Most people in these sites seemed to drive out and back for the day to do things in the area.
I was in site 9. Minimal privacy between neighbors, but it would be good for a joint reservation with 10 and has a perfect hammock spot. Stayed shady and cool. Site 8 on the other side has the brighter, warmer morning sun. If you like that.
IMO the drive time shared are way off. It was about 2.5 hours from Eugene, 2 hours to Oakridge. No way is it any less than 2.5 to drive to Bend. From Mackenzie Bridge to the campground is 1 hour alone. And there are deer crossing. So take it easy.
Note that NF19 from Mackenzie River along Cougar Dam might be closed either seasonally or longer and it's not clearly communicated to campers with reservations. It is a very long way out of the way if you are coming from the north side and then have to go around.
Although this is right off the highway (so kinda loud) it is nestled next to a beautiful creek. The campsites and bathrooms are clean and well maintained and camp host was friendly and helpful. Reservations can be made through the Lane County website.
The Walterville area sits at approximately 700 feet elevation in the Willamette Valley, with camping spots frequently located along the McKenzie and Willamette rivers. Campgrounds near Walterville, Oregon operate in a region that experiences mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers with temperatures typically ranging from 35°F to 85°F throughout the year. Road access to most camping locations requires no special vehicles, though some forest service roads may become rutted during spring thaw.
River access for swimming: Armitage Park offers direct access to the McKenzie River for cooling off during summer months. "This park has everything! Clean bathrooms, laundry, full hook ups, dog park, river access... all within a 10 minute drive to downtown Eugene," notes Kat P. about Armitage Park & Campground.
Dog-friendly activities: Take advantage of designated off-leash areas where pets can exercise freely. "Large dog park adjacent, which is very convenient when traveling with your four legged friends," according to Jennifer R. who visited Armitage Park.
Mountain biking excursions: Black Canyon Campground serves as a good base camp for mountain biking adventures in the Willamette National Forest. "Great place to chill with beers after a day hiking or mountain biking," explains Todd M. about Black Canyon Campground. Most popular trails are accessible within a 20-minute drive.
Spacious sites: Fisherman's Point Group Campground provides ample room for larger gatherings. "This is a very big size camp it is reserve camp for group camping," explains Jessie S. about Fisherman's Point Group Campground.
River sounds: Many sites at Black Canyon Campground back directly to waterways. "Our site was great with a trail down to the river and a rocky beach. Fire pit, table, tent site. It had all the standards," reports Ryan C. Sites nearest to rivers typically fill first on summer weekends.
Clean facilities: Premier RV Resort maintains well-kept bathrooms and common areas. "Clean bathrooms, trees between parking spots, and right off I-5. We also appreciated there was an after-hours check-in option for drop-ins like ourselves," notes Mike A. about Premier RV Resort.
Water level fluctuations: Fall Creek Reservoir water levels can impact recreation options at nearby campgrounds. "Fisherman's Point is a family favorite, and I'll always remember the great times we've had there. Even though the water's been low lately, we always find a place to swim," mentions Shelly C.
Train noise considerations: Some campgrounds experience railroad noise at night. "The train tracks are literally across the river. Maybe 200 ft away. The train runs all day and sadly all night," cautions Ryan C. about Black Canyon Campground.
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly throughout the area. "We had no cell service at all. Had to get most of the way to Oakridge before we picked it up. We had Verizon and AT&T so maybe another carrier has coverage," reports Todd M.
Swimming options: South Twin Lake Campground offers family-friendly water access with amenities. "The campground was awesome, very clean, with multiple bathrooms, a shower house, and a changing room. It's not a very big lake which I think deters it becoming crowded," shares Josie M. about South Twin Lake Campground.
Beginner-friendly hiking: Choose campgrounds with accessible trails suitable for children. "I backpacked to this campground with 4 teens and 2 millennial's with minimal experience. It went great. The Boys loved swimming in the lake and the adults took a hike to Palmateer Peak (highly suggested)," says Julie D.
Camp store access: Some locations offer on-site supplies for forgotten items. "There is a small resort/lodge area across the road from the campground where they have a shop/restaurant and sell small extra camping gear, fishing supplies and non perishable food," notes Josie M.
Site dimensions: Many campgrounds have limited space for larger rigs. "Spaces are fairly short, especially on Standard sites. We barely fit our 39' Class A and a 2 door Jeep Wrangler. If our vehicle had been any longer, we would have had to park in overflow parking," warns Rachel H. about Deerwood RV Park.
Pad requirements: Some parks require additional equipment. "ALL spots require jack pads. Having not stayed in too many parks with asphalt, this was a surprise for us. They did not mention at checkin, but we got a polite email the next morning," advises Rachel H.
After-hours arrival: Look for parks with self-service check-in options. "We arrived late on a Monday - our site was reserved with our names. We had to take our 5th wheel in for unexpected service. The staff was very accommodating and booked us for another night without an issue," shares Michael A.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Walterville, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, Walterville, OR offers a wide range of camping options, with 206 campgrounds and RV parks near Walterville, OR and 19 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Walterville, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Walterville, OR is Armitage Park & Campground - a Lane County Park with a 4.1-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Walterville, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 19 free dispersed camping spots near Walterville, OR.
What parks are near Walterville, OR?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Walterville, OR that allow camping, notably Fall Creek Lake and Dorena Lake.
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